China slams Aus over military exercises
China has criticised Australia for participating in joint military exercises with the United States and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
Last week, The Royal Australian Navy's destroyer HMAS Sydney participated in a guided missile frigate with the Philippine navy, involving aircrafts from both the US and the Philippines.
While China's coast guard continues to clash with vessels from the Philippines over the past 18 months, several countries, including Australia have joined military exercises with the Philippines in the waters.
However, China has accused Australia, the United States and the Philippines of 'creating trouble.'
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the US was using the Philippines as a 'pawn' against China, and accusing Manila of 'flexing' military muscles which will 'only backfire'.
'The US and other countries outside the region have patched up small groupings in the South China Sea to stoke confrontation in the name of co-operation, flex military muscles in the name of freedom, and create trouble in the name of upholding order,' he told reporters in Beijing.
'They are the biggest source of risks undermining the peace and stability in the South China Sea.'
While Australia hasn't responded to China's stance, the Department of Defence said the drills are a chance to enhance mutual understanding and interoperability between the countries' armed forces.
'Australia and our partners share a commitment to upholding the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, and other maritime rights under international law, particularly in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,' it said.
'By training and operating together, forces can build upon shared tactics, techniques, and procedures to enhance interoperability and readiness to respond to shared security challenges.
'This is the second MCA involving the Australian Defence Force this year, following HMAS Hobart's participation in a multilateral MCA on 6 February with Japan, the Philippines and the United States.'
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